Games today
Cebu Coliseum
5:00 p.m. – UV vs Don Bosco (Jrs.)
6:30 p.m. – UV vs SWU (Srs.)
When it comes to the reigning champions University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers and the Southwestern University (SWU) Cobras, there is no such thing as a regular season game.
This was emphasized by SWU head coach Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba as the two bitter rivals prepare to meet for the first time this season today, in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) men’s basketball tournament over at what is expected to be a madhouse of a Cebu Coliseum.
“Owing to the rivalry between the Cobras and the Lancers, there will always be no such thing as a regular season game between us and them. Even though I try to tell my players to treat it just like any normal match, this game will be a spectacle. It will be physical. It will be tough. It will be exciting,” said Alcoseba in an interview yesterday right after the team’s practice session.
Though a lot has transpired since the Green Lancers made history at the Cobras’ expense during last season’s intense five-game finals series, SWU has clutched that bitter memory close and has used it as fuel for their current run this year. And while the Cobras have won their first three outings this season to grab the lead in the standings, the Provincial Board Member remains wary given his team’s puzzling predilection for slow starts.
“Most of the players on this team are new. As you can see, I’m playing 14 to 15 players in each game. That is to know what my players are capable of when given playing time and to also build chemistry.
But I hope that we can improve especially tomorrow (today) against UV,” Alcoseba said of his team that is expected to bank on reigning MVP Mark Jayven Tallo, talented rookie Jasper Parker, sniper Anton Pardo, bruisers Daryl Goloran and Bernie Gregondo and imports Landry Sanjo and Bendly Valdor.
On the other side of the fence, the Green Lancers find themselves in unfamiliar territory with just one win to show in three games, undisputedly their worst start in league history. However, team manager and Congressman Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas is not pushing the panic button just yet as he expected this with a team loaded with freshmen and sophomores.
“A slow start was inevitable in my opinion. We have a team with mostly rookies and sophomores playing big minutes. Aside From (John) Abad we do not have legitimate scoring options out there. We’re hoping some sophomores could step up most especially (Leonard) Santillan,” the affable politician and sportsman said.